Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has clarified his use of the word “intention” to describe its stance on Sergio Perez remaining with the side beyond this season.
Perez’s Formula 1 future has been a discussion point throughout this year amid a campaign that has seen him slump 266 points behind team-mate Max Verstappen.
However, as recently as the Mexico City Grand Prix last month, Horner repeated that Perez, who retains a contract for next season, will partner Verstappen in 2024.
“Checo has an agreement with us for next year and that’s our intention, for him to be in the car in 2024,” Horner underlined.
“We’ll give him all the support we can to ensure that he finishes second [in the championship] but there’s no prerequisite that if he doesn’t finish second, you’re out.”
But with Horner’s word choice potentially offering the interpretation that there could be room for manoeuvre on the contractual front with Perez, the Red Bull team boss has downplayed the possibility of the Mexican being in line for an early exit from his deal.
“I am absolutely confident and clear that Checo will be our driver next year,” Horner addressed to Motorsport.com
“Now, if he was injured or something like that, there are circumstances beyond our control. But the clear plan and therefore the clear intention is that he will continue.
“We’re planning to continue. We have announced the AlphaTauri drivers, we have our Red Bull Racing drivers. That is how we intend to go racing in 2024.”
Meanwhile, Horner insists that the constant rumours regarding Perez’s position in the team have not been detrimental to Red Bull, who have won all but one race this year.
“It hasn’t because it’s only noise on the outside. On the inside everything is always clear,” he addressed.
But Horner accepts that the intense scrutiny on Perez has likely contributed to the 33-year-old’s fluctuating performances.
When asked if the speculation had impacted Perez, Horner added: “I’m sure it does. But I think what we’ve seen with him, and one of his strengths is, he has a very thick skin.
“Many times he’s picked himself up, brushed himself and got back up again. So hopefully he’s doing the same now.”
However, Perez asserts that his vast experience in the sport means he is used to dealing with stories related to his future.
Pressed on whether he was frustrated by the constant questioning, Perez replied last weekend in Sao Paulo: “No, I’ve been in the sport for 13 years and I know that everyone has a different agenda here, even the journalists. So I’m used to it.”
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